Luca Engstler hits back at Files at Hockenheim as he picks up key points

Luca Engstler has scored key points in the championship with a seventh-place finish at Hockenheim, holding back the rival Hyundai of Josh Files, and responded to his comments that Engstler was off the circuit too much, by saying Files was even worse.

The 19-year-old started and finished seventh in the race in his M1RA Hyundai i30 N TCR, and has now moved to eighth in the standings despite a disastrous first race at Hungary, where he was forced to start both races from 37th following a braking issue in qualifying.

“It was quite good to finish in front of (Files),” said Engstler to TouringCarTimes.

“We struggled a bit with the pace, but I could keep seventh place and got good points for the championship. However, I’m not really looking at the championship. My focus is to improve the car and the set-up; I threw everything into that race, and we’ll see how it turns out in Spa.”

In response to Files criticism that Engstler was driving off circuit to hold him back, Engstler quipped: “I heard he was crying about this a bit, but when I looked out of the mirror, I saw him more off the lines than me, so I think that’s just racing.”